Library of information regarding UVC

We've assembled some peer-reviewed studies regarding UVC sanitization of Covid-19 
Many more are available, should you like to read more reach out to us and we'll send more information
info@mga.net.au


1 Durham School of Architecture Engineering and Construction, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1110 S 67th Street, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
2 Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984375 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA

Recently, the requirement to continuously collect bioaerosol samples using shorter response times has called for the use of real-time detection. The decreased cost of this technology makes it available for a wider application than military use, and makes it accessible to pharmaceutical and academic research. In this case study, real-time bioaerosol monitors (RBMs) were applied in elementary school classrooms—a densely occupied environment—along with upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) devices. The classrooms were separated into a UVGI group and a non-UVGI control group. Fluorescent bioaerosol counts (FBCs) were monitored on 20 visiting days over a four-month period. The classroom with upper-room UVGI showed significantly lower concentrations of fine size (<3 μm) and total FBCs than the control classroom during 13 of the 20 visiting days. The results of the study indicate that the upper-room UVGI could be effective in reducing FBCs in the school environment, and RBMs may be applicable in reflecting the transient conditions of the classrooms due to the dynamic activity levels of the students and teachers.

Full Article Click here (opens a new window)

(GMS Hygiene and Infection Control, 14 May 2020)


Background: To slow the increasing global spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, appropriate disinfection techniques are required. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) has a well-known antiviral effect, but measurements on the radiation dose necessary to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 have not been published so far. Methods: Coronavirus inactivation experiments with ultraviolet light performed in the past were evaluated to determine the UV radiation dose required for a 90% virus reduction. This analysis is based on the fact that all coronaviruses have a similar structure and similar RNA strand length. Results: The available data reveals large variations, which are apparently not caused by the coronaviruses but by the experimental conditions selected. If these are excluded as far as possible, it appears that coronaviruses are very UV sensitive. The upper limit determined for the log-reduction dose (90% reduction) is approximately 10.6 mJ/cm2 (median), while the true value is probably only 3.7 mJ/cm2 (median). Conclusion: Since coronaviruses do not differ structurally to any great exent, the SARS-CoV-2 virus - as well as possible future mutations - will very likely be highly UV sensitive, so that common UV disinfection procedures will inactivate the new SARS-CoV-2 virus without any further modification.

Full Article click here (opens a new window)

Lice Science 
Donavyn Coffey - Live Science Contributor July 12, 2020

Ultraviolet light has been used to stop pathogens in their tracks for decades. But does it work against SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the pandemic?

The short answer is yes. But it takes the right kind of UV in the right dosage, a complex operation that is best administered by trained professionals. In other words, many at-home UV-light devices claiming to kill SARS-CoV-2 likely aren't a safe bet.

UV radiation can be classified into three types based on wavelength: UVA, UVB and UVC. Nearly all the UV radiation that reaches Earth is UVA, because most of UVB and all of UVC light is absorbed by the ozone layer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And it's UVC, which has the shortest wavelength and the highest energy, that can act as a disinfectant. 

Read Full Raticle Here (Opens in a new window)


Journal of Photochemistry & Photobiology, B: Biology 


 Department of Clinical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil b BioLambda, Scientific and Commercial LTD, São Paulo, SP, Brazil c GAMA Therapeutics LLC, Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, Worcester, USA d Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. e Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA f Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA g Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, South Africa h Center for Lasers and Applications, Nuclear, and Energy Research Institute, National Commission for Nuclear Energy, São Paulo, SP, Brazil i Department of Chemistry Rice University, Houston, TX, USA j IdISBA - Fundación de Investigación Sanitaria de las Islas Baleares, Palma, Spain k Department of Internal Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil l School of Veterinary Medicine, Metropolitan University of Santos, Santos, Brazil. m Micromoria LLC, Marlborough, USA n School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK 

The global dissemination of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has accelerated the need for the implementation of effective antimicrobial strategies to target the causative agent SARS-CoV-2. Light-based technologies have a demonstrable broad range of activity over standard chemotherapeutic antimicrobials and conventional disinfectants, negligible emergence of resistance, and the capability to modulate the host immune response. This perspective article identifies the benefits, challenges, and pitfalls of repurposing light-based strategies to combat the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic.

Read Full Raticle Here (Opens in a new window)

a Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, 8800 Rockville Pike, HFM448, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
b Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a life-threatening disease caused by a novel coronavirus termed SARS-CoV. Due to the severity of this disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that manipulation of active viral cultures of SARS-CoV be performed in containment laboratories at biosafety level 3 (BSL3). The virus was inactivated by ultraviolet light (UV) at 254 nm, heat treatment of 65 °C or greater, alkaline (pH > 12) or acidic (pH < 3) conditions, formalin and glutaraldehyde treatments. We describe the kinetics of these efficient viral inactivation methods, which will allow research with SARS-CoV containing materials, that are rendered non-infectious, to be conducted at reduced safety levels.


Read Full Article here (Opens in a new window)

Virus, appropriate disinfection techniques are required. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) has a well-known antiviral effect, but measurements on the‭ ‭radiation dose necessary to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 have not been published so far.‭ ‭Coronavirus inactivation experiments with ultraviolet light‬ performed in the past were evaluated to determine the UV radiation‭ dose required for a 90% virus reduction. This analysis is based on the fact that all coronaviruses have a similar structure and similar RNA strand length. The available data reveals large variations, which are apparently not caused by the coronaviruses but by the experimental conditions selected. If these are excluded as far as possible, it appears that coronaviruses are very UV sensitive. The upper limit determined for the Log-reduction dose (90% reduction) is approximately 10.6 mJ/cm2 (median), while the true value is probably only 3.7 mJ/cm2(median). Conclusion: Since coronaviruses do not differ structurally to any great The SARS-CoV-2 virus – as well as possible future mutations – will very likely be highly UV sensitive, so that common UV disinfection procedures will inactivate the new SARS-CoV-2 virus without any further modification


Read Full Article here (Opens in a new window)

Mobirise

PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS

Were installing UVC reactors that can kill 99.9% of viruses, Spores, and Bacteria! We typically install these in the return air ductwork, you'll never see, or hear them running as they shred the DNA of our enemies!

UVC is scientifically proven to inactivate viruses, Bacteria, Mould, and fungal spores.
UVC interacts with the DNA / RNA causing a reaction between two molecules of thymine, one of the bases that make up DNA / RNA, (the ladders on the helical spiral)
UVC radiation causes the rungs on the ladder to warp and connect to adjacent rungs causing the strand of DNA or RNA unviable.

Exposure is everything when it comes to UVC

The visible light region occupies a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. 

The light emitted by the sun falls within the visible region and extends beyond the red (into the infrared, IR) and from Violet through ultraviolet (UV), X rays to cosmic rays Light in the UV band consists broadly of UVA, UVB & UVC.

95% of UVA reaches the surface of the earth while only 5% of UVB penetrates the Earth’s atmosphere. Almost no UVC is able to penetrate the atmosphere as a result of reactions within the ozone layer and Ultra Violet C’s reaction with Oxygen.

Life on Earth extensively has evolved without protection mechanisms to deal with the harmful effects of Ultraviolet C.

Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) is a disinfection method that uses short-wavelength UVC to Kill or inactivate pathogens by destroying Nucleic Acid and or disrupting DNA, leaving them unable to perform vital cellular functions.

UVC interacts with the DNA causing a reaction between two molecules of thymine, one of the bases that make up DNA, (the ladders on the helical DNA spiral) UVC radiation causes the rungs on the ladder to warp and connect to adjacent rungs causing the strand of DNA to become unviable. 


The adaption of UVGI has been an accepted practice since the mid 20th century and has been widely used in medical sterilization. MGA is installing UVC reactors in return air ductwork and stand-alone units which draw air into a reaction chamber where the air is exposed to a high dosage of UVC in the 254nm range. 


FAQ

Learn more about the selection and design of UVC Solutuons

Log reduction is a measure of how thoroughly a decontamination process reduces the concentration of a contaminant. It is defined as the common logarithm of the ratio of the levels of contamination before and after the process, so an increment of 1 corresponds to a reduction in concentration by a factor of 10.

for example
Log reduction = 90% reduction in pathogen
Log 2 reduction = 99% reduction in pathogen
Log 3 reduction =99.9% reduction in pathogen
Log 4 reduction = 99.99% reduction in pathogen

A specific Log reduction forms part of the initial brief and is something that must be designed for each specific application,

Think of reduction as a factor of dosage, where Dosage is a result of space, time, and the amount of UVC energy or Joules a pathogen is exposed.
The more Joules of UVC the less time the pathogen needs to be exposed and or the further it can be away from the emitter, The closer the emitter the less time or the lower power emitter required.

Be wary of solutions that don't provide a stated log reduction, as there may be only a negligible reduction produced, thereby creating a false sense of security.

Determining the amount of UVC required to kill pathogens is a factor of energy, distance and time. It is established that it is relatively easy to inactivate covid-19 in air with UVC with a dose of 1.5J/cm2 Where J= mw of UVC x time (refer to study page here) In order to expose the virus for a sufficient time it is essential that the air pass the UVC emitters axially thereby prolonging the exposure time and minimizing obstruction of air caused by the emitter. For example given a duct size of 1.5 Mt x 1.9 Mt with 38,000 L/s flowing approximately 120 Lamps would be required to provide a Log inactivation of all pathogens. Those 120 Lamps and frames if arranged across the airflow would take up over 150% of the volume of the duct, therefore can not provide a solution, however if installed axial to airflow in two banks a log reduction is easily achievable.

UVGI (Ultra Violet Germicidal Irradiation) can be used to disinfect air with appropriate exposure. In the 1930s and 40s, an experiment in public schools in Philadelphia showed that upper-room ultraviolet fixtures could significantly reduce the transmission of measles among students. In 2020, UVGI is again being researched as a countermeasure against the COVID-19 pandemic.

UVGI has been used in hospital operating theatres for several decades and has a proven record for efficiency and effectiveness.

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